Thomas Tuchel angered West Ham fans by starting Marcus Rashford and Phil Foden ahead of Jarrod Bowen against Albania.
It felt like Groundhog Day for the Hammers, who are well used to seeing England managers fall into the same trap of picking by name and reputation over form.
Both Rashford and Foden flopped and Bowen shone as he came on for the last 15 minutes of that game.
Tuchel offered stinging criticism of both and hinted West Ham’s captain would get a start against Latvia.
The German appeared to pedal back in his next press conference.
Hammers fans feared Tuchel was going to be the same as all the rest by snubbing Bowen again.
But West Ham were delighted to see Bowen get the start he deserved against Latvia at Wembley.
Things did not necessarily go to plan, though.
Battered West Ham star Bowen accused of ‘blowing big chance’
As he always does for the Hammers, Bowen worked tirelessly throughout for the team.
However, he was singled out for some ridiculously rough treatment from the Latvian team.
The West Ham talisman was the most fouled player on the pitch, taking several late, heavy challenges which went unpunished by the officials.
He was also denied what looked a clear penalty for a clumsy foul by the visiting goalkeeper.
Battered Bowen will be left bruised by the encounter as he was subbed off before the hour mark.
Both in terms of his body and his reputation if ratings of his performance are anything to go by.
To rub salt in the wound, his replacement Eberechi Eze scored a fine solo goal.
And former Hammers teammate Declan Rice set up Harry Kane for a third from Bowen’s position on the right.
Bowen has been accused of ‘blowing his big chance’ as the BBC and Telegraph rate the West Ham star as England’s worst.
BBC and Telegraph rate Hammers ace Bowen as England’s worst
Here’s a round-up of player ratings from the football press for Bowen vs Latvia:
“Showed plenty of effort, but it didn’t quite click for the West Ham forward,” BBC Sport said when giving him a 5/10 score, the lowest of the entire team, including subs.
“He is a quality player, but has to take his chances when given them in an area of the pitch where England have lots of options. Taken off after 60 minutes.”
The Telegraph’s Sam Dean also rated Bowen 5/10 and even stated Rashford was ‘more dangerous’ than the Hammers ace.
“Unfortunate not to win a first-half penalty on a frustrating evening for the winger,” The Telegraph reports.
“Tried his luck on both flanks but struggled to make inroads against Latvia’s packed defence.”
Adrian Durham a surprising voice of reason on Bowen display
The Daily Mail surprisingly offered a more considered view, giving Bowen 6/10 along with a host of others.
“Offered some flashes of danger without delivering an end product. Industry without incision when trying to stake a claim.”
The Guardian also gave Bowen a 6/10 score but praised his link-up with Reece James and had Jude Bellingham as worse.
“Linked well with James, before half-time switch of wings, subbed on the hour. Cleaned out by Latvia’s keeper; clear penalty somehow denied by VAR.”
talkSPORT’s Adrian Durham praised West Ham’s hard-working skipper when giving him 6/10, more than Jordan Pickford’s 4/10 and the same score as Kane and Marc Guehi.
But he thinks Bowen may be left kicking himself.
“Not a bad performance at all,” Durham said of Bowen.
“But I can’t help thinking Jarrod will think he could’ve done more to impress.”
The Daily Express said 6/10 Bowen ‘flattered to deceive’ but also rated Bellingham’s performance worse.
“Flattered to deceive from start to finish. Needs to do more to be part of Tuchel’s plans,” the report states.
‘Bowen took one hell of a kicking’
One Football was much kinder to Bowen, giving him a 7/10 rating and praising the fact he showed more than Foden.
“More involved than Phil Foden, who started the previous game,” the report says.
“Switched to the left in the second half and continued to look dangerous. Substituted in the 60th minute.”
Goal think Guehi and Pickford were worse than Bowen, highlighting the battering the Hammers man took when giving him 6/10.
“Took a hell of a kicking from Latvia’s dogged defenders, while he was unlucky not to have earned a penalty after being clattered by Zviedris. Provided some teasing crosses before being substituted for Eze.”
Sky Sports only rated Guehi as worse as they too gave Bowen 6/10.
But in a 1,100 word report the outlet failed to mention Bowen’s name once and said Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer will have no problems getting in the team when fit.
Now Bowen will return to West Ham, where he is infinitely more appreciated, to rest up and recover ahead of games against Wolves and Bournemouth next week.
